Zero Deposit has partnered with shared-living platform COHO, so tenants applying for COHO properties can choose a deposit alternative or insured guarantor cover instead of paying a cash deposit or finding a personal guarantor.
COHO tenants can access Zero Deposit's Guarantor+ and Zero Deposit Guarantee products during the tenancy application. Shared-living tenant bases can include people moving for work, students, international renters and first-time renters, and some struggle to find a UK-based guarantor or a large upfront deposit.
The two products work as follows:
- Guarantor+ is a regulated insurance product that replaces a personal guarantor. Eligible tenants can get an approval decision in minutes, and landlords and agents get rent and legal protection where appropriate.
- Zero Deposit Guarantee lets tenants choose between a deposit alternative and a traditional cash deposit. The alternative costs one week's rent plus a set-up fee, paid upfront or across 12 monthly payments through Flex.
COHO landlords gain access to regulated protection alongside a deposit alternative for tenants. Applicants see both options at the point of application, rather than going through separate processes after finding a property.
COHO's platform already handles tenant onboarding, referencing, tenancy agreements, rent management, compliance and deposit management, and is built around shared-living properties. Its listings already support deposit replacement and professional guarantor options, and current properties direct eligible applicants to Zero Deposit's products where appropriate.
"COHO has built an impressive platform focused on making shared living work better for renters, landlords and agents, with 150,000 tenancies now represented in its platform data," said Alec McKenzie, commercial director at Zero Deposit. "That makes this partnership a natural fit with our mission to make renting easier, faster and fairer for all."
"COHO's own research shows that affordability remains the number one reason people choose shared living, while its platform serves a diverse and increasingly important part of the rental market. We want to make sure good tenants can access the homes they want without unnecessary barriers created by deposits or traditional guarantor requirements."
"By integrating Zero Deposit Guarantee and Guarantor+ directly into the COHO journey, we can give renters more choice while giving landlords the protection and confidence they need to say yes. It is exactly what we mean by a fairer way to yes: widening access to renting while providing landlords with protection against specified tenancy risks."
"What makes the partnership particularly exciting is the combination of COHO's scale and technology with our products and protection. Rather than adding another process for renters or property managers, we are building these options into the existing tenancy journey, making them available at the point they are actually needed."
"Finding and securing a new home should be as straightforward as possible," said Vann Vogstad, founder of COHO (pictured).
"By bringing Zero Deposit's deposit and guarantor options directly into our platform, we can give tenants more choice, make moving more affordable, and open the door for people who may struggle to meet the upfront requirements."
"By having everything in one place, as part of the same application journey, it also removes layers of complexity and the inconvenience of having to navigate separate services and processes. This convenience is particularly valuable in shared living, where people often need to move quickly."
"For landlords and agents, it creates a smoother application process and fewer delays while importantly also providing reassurance that the right protections are in place."
